Indicator attachment for type-writing machines.



N41. 660,224. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

' J. w. SHINHOLSER.

INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

led a 1 O (Applicgtioq h M y 26, 19 0 {No Model.)

In I a I" \mmmu UNITED STATES PATENT GFFlClE.

JOHN W. SHINHOLSER, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE- VYRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,224, dated, October23, 1900.

Application filed May 26, 1900.

T0 (tZZ whom, it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SHINHOLSER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Macon in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IndicatorAttachments for Type-Writing Machines, of which the follow ing is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.I

This invention relates to indicators for typewriting machines.

The object of the invention is toproduce an indicator or pointer whichshall follow the lifting-platen of a type-writer with a movementproportioned to the relative location of pointer and carriage so thatthe pointer shall reach the position to be indicated (usually theposition of the last letter written or the next letter to be written) onor close to the paper as the carriage or platen reaches its extremelifted position.

The invention consists in certain constructions and combinations ofmechanisms, substantially as hereinafter stated.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of so much of a type-writingmachine as is necessary to show the device in its operative relation.Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts constituting the indicator as prepared forattachment to a machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The implement may be attached tothe Manhattan, Remington, Oaligraph, andother inachines of the character in which the carriage swings upward topermit inspection of the writing. I have illustrated a modificationspecially adapted to the Manhattan machine, as the implement may be heldto such machine by merely loosening the screw B, which holds the centraltype-bar support to the ring or basket A at the rear of the machine,andsliding the forked hanger under the screw-head.

The numeral 1 indicates the shelf or bracket to which the pointer 10 ofmy device is movably attached. The shelf 1 is a thin strip of metal,preferably having a fork 2 at the rear end, which fork may embrace thebody and be held down by the head of screw B, as stated. The front endof bracket 1 forms a support in which the pointer 10 is hinged. Bypreference two arms 3 3 at the sides of the bracket or other suitablematerial.

Serial No. 18,092. (No model.)

' receive the pivot or pintles 4 4 of the pointer,

and when so connected the pointer may swing up or down on the pivots. Alight spring 5 is connected to bracket 1, as by a spiral coiled aroundpin 7. One end of the spring bears on the bracket, the other bearing onthe pointer 10 with a tendency to throw the pointer down to the positionof Fig. 3. The pointer 10 is preferably in the form of a bow, as shown,and the material may be light wire, plate metal, A crossbar orfiller-piece 11 serves as a bearing-piece for the end of spring 5 andalsoas a means for attachment of the lifting-piece 12. The liftingpiece, link, or loop 12 is preferably a light wire forming a link, oneend of which is attached to the pointer 10, as abovestated, and theother end of the said link looselyembraces the rod 0 of the carriage Dof the type-writer.

Most type-writer carriages of the genus referred to have a longitudinalrod in about the position of rod 0. This rod moves with the carriage,and when the indicator is attached as stated-the rod 0 moves freelylengthwise of the machine, and when the carriage is turned down the rod0 may move back and forth Without moving link 12 or even having contacttherewith, as the link 12 will usually support itself. When the carriageis lifted,

however, rod 0 draws on link 12, and the link 12 draws on the pointer 10and turns it upward toward the position in 'fulllines, Fig. 1. When thecarriage is turned down, the spring 5 moves the pointer downward soquickly that it is always out of the way of the carriage.

The pointer 10 is preferably in the form of a bow or yoke, as shown, topermit the type characters to strike upwardly through its open center.When down, it rests upon or just above the ribbon and prevents theribbon from rising when the type strike upward from below.

The pivot or pivots l have position somewhat forward from the rear sideof the ring A of the machine. The pointer 10 is of such length as toreach from said pivots to the center of the roller-platen when saidplaten is in its elevated or turned-back position. The link 12 serves asa drawpiece or lifter to swing the pointer when the carriage is lifted.Hence the upward movement of the carriage to its extreme position liftsthe pointer and turns it against or in close proximity to the paper,which is held on the platen, as usual, and the end of the pointer by itsheight indicates the place where the line will come in printing and byits lateral position indicates the position of the next letter in theline. So if it is desired to insert a word the roller-platen is liftedand turned until the position of the first letter of the word is onposite the end of the pointer 10, when the carriage is turned down andthe printing proceeded with. Should link 12 break, the pointer may belifted by hand.

The pointer 10 may be supported in its turned-down position by a shelf15, which is a mere forked plate held by one of the screwheads, or thepointer may be supported by a pin or extension 16 from bracket 1, or byboth supports.

I have described the device as constructed for a particular machine; butwith slight changes it may be adapted to other forms of machine. Myclaims are intended to cover, broadly, indicators of this class.

What I claim is 1. An indicator for type-writing machines having abracket secured to the frame, a hinged pointer connected to saidbracket, a spring bearing on the pointer and tending to hold it down,and a loose connection from the pointer to the carriage by which thepointer is lifted as the carriage is lifted.

2. An indicator attachment for type-writ ing machines, having a forkedbracket for attachment to a screw of the machine proper, a pointerhinged to said bracket and a spring for retaining said pointer indepressed position, an attachment to the frame by which said pointer issupported when depressed, and a link connecting the pointer to thecarriage, in combination with the machined'rame' and carriage,substantially as described.

3. An indicator for type-writers having a support which in operation isattached to the rear part of the frame, a pointer yieldingly connectedto the support and normally projecting forward beyond theprinting-center and passing around said center, and a link extendingfrom said pointer and loosely embracing a longitudinal rod of thetype-writer carriage, whereby the elevation of the carriage draws on thelink and lifts the pointer, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with the ring or basket of a type-writing machine, anindicatorpointer pivotally supported and connected to the rear portionof said basket, means connected to the carriage for lifting said pointerwhen the carriage is lifted, and means for holding the pointer down whenthe carriage is down, and a shelf at the front of the hasket on whichthe pointer rests in its down position, whereby the pointer serves as aribbon-guard, substantially as described.

5. In an indicator for type-writing machines, a forked bracket toembrace a screwhead on a type-basket, a pointer consisting of a bowhaving its rear ends pivotedin said bracket, a spring bearing on thebracket and on the pointer to press the pointer down as described, and alink connected to said pointer and having an opening through which thebar of the type-writer carriage may pass loosely, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SHINI-IOLSER.

\Vitnesses:

E. A. PAUL, W. A. BARTLETT.

